Alstroemeria plant named ‘Jave’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Jave’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; large dark yellow-colored flowers with dark greyed purple-colored flecks and streaks, flowers arranged in symmetrical umbels; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JAVE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Jave’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable plant qualities, attractive flower color and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted in March, 2005 by the Inventors in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PS 447, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number HH 124, as the male, or seed, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia in January, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia since April, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Jave’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jave’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Large dark yellow-colored flowers with dark greyed         purple-colored flecks and streaks, flowers arranged in         symmetrical umbels.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the parent selections. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color as plants of the parent selections have yellow orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsadim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,985. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of ‘Zalsadim’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had smaller inflorescences         than plants of ‘Zalsadim’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers with larger         perianth segments than plants of ‘Zalsadim’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Zalsadim’ differed         slightly in flower color.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter pedicels than         plants of ‘Zalsadim’.     -   5. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Zalsadim’ differed in         anther color.     -   6. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Zalsadim’ differed in         style, stigma and ovary color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Jave’.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Jave’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, maximum day temperatures averaged 31.5° C., maximum night temperatures averaged 6° C. and light levels averaged 21.4 KWH/m². Plants used for the photographs and description were one year old. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Jave’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PS 447, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number HH 124. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By rhizome divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures             ranging from about 6° C. to 32° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About eight weeks at             temperatures ranging from about 6° C. to 32° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; close to 155A             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Rounded. Length: About 15 cm. Diameter:             About 1.49 cm. Texture: Fleshy. Color: Close to NN155A. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 18             weeks. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 130 cm to 155 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 11.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             longitudinally ridged.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A;             venation, close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single cup-shaped flowers             arranged in compound umbels; flowers face upright to             outwardly; perianth segments separate.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering with about 15 open flowers             and flower buds per inflorescence.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous year round in             a greenhouse in Colombia; plants begin flowering about 18             weeks after planting.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About two weeks; flowers             not persistent.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145A to 145B.         -   Umbel height.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 17 cm by 18 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Inner             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.8 cm. Width:             About 1.5 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Mucronate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 14A; towards the             base, close to 12A to 12B. Color, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 14B to 14C. Color, fully opened, upper             surface: Towards the apex, close to 14A to 14B; towards the             base, close to 14C to 14D; flecks and streaks, close to             185A. Color, fully opened, lower surface: Towards the apex,             close to 13A to 13B; toward the base, close to 13C to 13D.             Inner perianth, median segment: Length: About 6.1 cm. Width:             About 1.5 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Mucronate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 13A to 13B,             towards the base, close to 13C to 13D. Color, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 13B to 13D. Color, fully opened,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 14A to 14B;             towards the base, close to 14C to 14D; few flecks and             streaks, close to 185A. Color, fully opened, lower surface:             Towards the apex, close to 14A to 14B; towards the base,             close to 13C to 13D. Outer perianth, lateral segments:             Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Obovate to             elongated cordate. Apex: Emarginate to cordate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 13A to 13B;             towards the base, close to 13C to 13D. Color, when opening,             lower surface: Towards the apex and margins, close to 13B;             towards the base, close to 13D; venation, close to 144B.             Color, fully opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, close             to 13A to 13B; towards the base, close to 13C to 13D; with             development color becomes closer to 23B. Color, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 13C; towards the base, close             to 13D; venation, close to 144B. Outer perianth, median             segment: Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape:             Obovate to elongated cordate. Apex: Emarginate to cordate.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color, when opening,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 13A to 13B;             towards the base, close to 13C to 13D. Color, when opening,             lower surface: Towards the apex and margins, close to 13B;             towards the base, close to 13D; venation, close to 144B.             Color, fully opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, close             to 13A to 13B; towards the base, close to 13C to 13D; with             development color becomes closer to 23B. Color, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 13C; towards the base, close             to 13D; venation, close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 25° to 35° from the peduncle             axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elongated. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 152D. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 15A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5.4 cm. Style             length: About 4 cm. Style color: Close to 4B to 4D. Stigma             shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 4A. Ovary color:             Close to 144A.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Jave’ as illustrated and described. 